Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 February 2023
152. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on work that is under way to improve pay and terms and conditions for school caretakers similar to that achieved for school secretaries; the stage this process is at; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6331/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool caretakers are valued members of our schools and I am fully aware of the vitally important role played by them in the running of our schools. The majority of primary and post-primary schools receive assistance to provide for caretaker services under grant schemes. Where a school employs a staff member to support those functions those staff are employees of individual schools and responsibility for terms of employment rests with the school.
Following extensive engagement between my Department, school management bodies and Forsa, and with the support of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the WRC, in February 2022 a suite of measures designed to improve the working conditions of school secretaries was agreed. At that time I indicated that it is my intention to ensure that school caretakers will be afforded the opportunity to avail of a similar deal but, as recognised in the WRC process, there remains a deficit of data on the working terms and conditions of caretakers. Work is currently in progress to verify and validate comprehensive data in respect of school secretaries, which was collated as part of the implementation process of the secretaries deal and it will be necessary to undertake a separate, similar process in respect of caretakers: this will be progressed as soon as practicable.
My Department continues to maintain active engagement with Forsa on this issue also.
